I cycled 2,000 km from Paris to Santiago de Compostela on the famous Camino de Santiago — my life-changing journey. This ride was more than just cycling; it was my Camino story, a reflection on transformation, endurance, and the history of the world’s most famous pilgrimage route. From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the cathedral in Santiago, this is a bikepacking adventure across France and Spain that pushed me to my limits and changed me forever.
Fourteen years ago, I was 147 kilos and stuck. Cycling gave me a way forward, and bike travel combined everything I loved — cycling, food, culture, photography, and videography. By setting dates for trips, like my first tour in Denmark back in 2011, I found motivation to train and explore.
The Camino de Santiago is more than a route — it’s history, community, and a rhythm that has carried pilgrims for over 1,000 years. I chose to ride from Paris, connecting EuroVelo 3 (the Pilgrim Route) through France into Spain. Along the way, I rode gravel paths, tarmac, mountains, cathedrals, and villages, met fellow pilgrims who cheered me on with “Buen Camino” and “Ánimo,” and discovered how deeply this journey connected me to others and myself.
Reaching Santiago was emotional — but my trip didn’t end there. I continued to Lisbon, learning that the Camino doesn’t end at the cathedral. It’s just part of a bigger road. This reflection video shares my full experience: from Pamplona to Burgos, León to Santiago, and finally Lisbon on the Atlantic coast.
If you’re interested in cycling the Camino, EuroVelo 3, or long-distance bikepacking adventures, I hope this video inspires you.
👉 Watch my full Paris to Lisbon series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL17H-8t_nLUUUldd0h6WHgGZaDRd6dA3C
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9 Comments
It's a great story and one I can relate to. I haven't lost as much weight as you but what I have lost is all down to my love of Bikepacking. At my heaviest I was 117kg during the pandemic and now I'm around 88kg.
I now see food as energy to enable me to cycle further! I'll be in Sardinia from Saturday for 12 days and I'll enjoy every single meal and won't care or gain weight!
Hopefully I'll post a video or two on my channel of amazing Sardinia!
Keep going, you're an inspiration.
Wonderful <3
This journey wasn’t just about cycling 2,000 km from Paris to Santiago — it was about transformation. Fourteen years ago I was 147 kilos, and discovering cycling changed my life. 🚴✨
👉 I’d love to hear from you:
What’s a journey or challenge that transformed you?
(It doesn’t have to be cycling — maybe travel, fitness, or something completely different.)
Your stories inspire me as much as I hope mine inspires you. 🙏 Buen Camino!
Cheers, i have been enjoying your
videos of this trip. I did alot of traveling in my twenties. One trip from Algiers to Cape Town, overland. Its impossible not to be changed by travel. Take care.
Thanks for sharing great story
Highly motivating
I have fond memories. Like you, I rode the Camino Frances this year, but from Belgium (2,400 km). It was a wonderful experience for me too. The arrival in Santiago (August 31st) certainly stirred up some emotions.
The route I followed in France was quite different:
Scherpenheuvel (Belgium) – Paris – Orléans – Châteauroux – Cahors – Pau – Saint Jean Pied de Port, and then crossing the Pyrenees to Pamplona. So I cycled through the Massif Central. So I was already somewhat accustomed to climbing before I started the Camino in Spain 😊. It was mainly the high temperatures (42°C) that made it tough on some days.
Great video, I loved it. It is a route I want to do, well the Spanish part.
Un gran viaje,,,,,,,,,,,,, para los que ya hemos hecho El Camino, valoramos el recorrido.